The SG-1024/M-A, which was unveiled yesterday (29 November) at Inkjet Forum in India, is the latest addition to Dimatix’s 1024-channel family of StarFire printerheads.
It features a robust and repairable construction with a high nozzle density in a compact package suited for demanding scanning and single-pass applications. Its construction is designed to withstand the harsh environment of industrial textile production.
The product, which is available from today, will be sold to OEMs, which can embed the technology into their devices. Fujifilm Dimatix marketing director Edward Chrusciel told PrintWeek that pricing to the OEM is volume-dependant, and that the subsequent pricing to the end-user would then be set by the OEM.
He added that given that "we do have competition in the 1024 jet space from two other vendors" the SG-1024/M-A will be "competitively priced to win OEM business".
The printhead’s single, durable metal nozzle plate allows the SG-1024/M-A to handle aqueous-based, UV-curable and solvent inks, which are widely used in the digital textile printing industry.
The printhead’s jetting performance and high nozzle packing density mean it can achieve single-colour operation at 400dpi with fluids in the 8-10 centipoise range. Its 1024 independent channels are arranged in eight rows on the nozzle plate, each of which can be fired simultaneously or individually at frequencies of up to 35khz.
Chrusciel explained that the market for digital printing on textiles is predicted to grow substantially.
He said: "Although digital printing of textiles are estimated to represent less than 5% of the global market for printed textiles in 2012, their output is expected to triple within the next five years, to represent the printing of nearly 1.5 billion square metres of material made from interwoven natural or synthetic fibres — while still leaving nearly 90% of the total textile printing market untapped.
"The opportunity for inkjet printing is huge and Dimatix intends to take a leadership role in the development of this fast growing application."
As part of the StarFire family of printheads, the SG-1024/M-A incorporates Fujifilm Dimatix’s RediJet jetting technology, which combined with its VersaDrop multi-pulsing can reduce start-up and maintenance times.
RediJet also incorporates special surface coatings, enhanced on-head electronics, continuous ink recirculation at the nozzle and waveforms tailored to specific ink requirements.
Russ Brown, Fujifilm Dimatix’s manager of OEM printheads, said: "These attributes are particularly important for jetting dye- and pigment-based aqueous ink formulations with heavier colourant concentrations and fast-drying characteristics essential for high-speed single-pass digital textile printing and decorating.
"Together, they unlock the full productive capacity of the printhead while lowering recurring service costs by minimizing initial start-up and ongoing maintenance times and associated fluids."
For more information on textile printing, read PrintWeek's feature on opportunties for printers in the market.
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